Still In Love

... God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8)

Brian McKnight wrote one of the greatest love songs ever written. In his song “Still In Love”, he describes his undying love for the object of his affection. He made it abundantly clear that if the unthinkable happened he would still be in love. Read these intense lyrics: When eagles forget how to fly...And it's twenty below in July...And when violets turn red....And roses turn blue...I'll be still in love with you”. Wow that's love, and I know some of us may be thinking have I ever loved anybody that way or has anybody ever loved me that way. I'm sure some may respond with a resounding yes and others may be saying no way.

However, this is one thing we all can be sure of - God has never ever stopped loving us. God is still in love with us. The apostle told the Church of Rome that while we were still sinners “God demonstrated God's great love for us by sending Jesus Christ to die for us” (Romans 5:8). What manner of love does God have for us that God would STILL love us when we were unlovable, uncontrollable, undesirable and unwilling to obey and follow? Perhaps, this is where we pause and think about some of our bad decisions, wayward directions and delinquent ways, and then declare with excitement and amazement Still In Love With Me?

The bible is a love story of a God who has been willing to love humanity while humanity has been intentionally willing to make choices antithetical to God's desires and wishes. At the risk of being repetitive and rehearsing familiar biblical history, Adam and Eve began the process of breaking God's heart by choosing to listen to a sneaky snake. Following their act of disobedience there is a litany of biblical characters who disappointed God: Moses having an intense angry moment; Abraham's repetitive lies; David's immoral decisions and so on and so on. Then there are our many sinful ways, and yet the biblical text affirms that God is still in love with us.

If an unexplainable earthly love could cause our hearts to skip a beat, how much the more should we have endless praise and thanksgiving for a God who loves us beyond measure? One song says “I can sing of His love forever”. I know it sounds like foolishness. But maybe, just maybe, it is not that foolish when we cognitively consider his sacrificial love at Calvary. The love of God deserves continual applause from us.  Full regard for God's love for us might even resolve our occasional conversation that nobody loves us. God is still in love with us. God's love remains constant for all generations. God is not unfaithful or untrue. God never seeks to deceive or mislead. God's love is dependable, reliable and accountable.

Brian may have written one of the greatest love songs, but God has performed or provided the greatest display of love ever. “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again” (John 3:16, 17 MSG).

Prayer: Thank you God for loving us in the most amazing and unbelievable way, in Jesus' Name Amen.

God's Peace and Good Journey!
+t. anthony bronner